The Buccaneers had their destiny in their hands for a few hours. But the Falcons decided to play spoilsport. By beating the Rams, Atlanta triggered a scenario that could be pretty crazy.
On Saturday, the Buccaneers and Panthers will face off in what could have been the final of the NFC South division, with a place in the playoffs at stake. But now Tampa needs help. Even beating Carolina on Saturday night, Baker Mayfield and his teammates will have to wait.
Because if the Falcons beat the Saints on Sunday at 7 p.m., then it is the Panthers who will go to the playoffs, even if they lost to the Buccaneers. With a victory for the Buccaneers and Falcons, these two teams would find themselves at 8 wins and 9 losses. Just like the Panthers. And it would be Carolina who would pass.
Because the measure used to decide between them would be the cumulative oppositions between these three teams. Overall, Carolina would have 3 wins and one loss against Tampa and Atlanta this season. It would be 2-2 for the Buccaneers and 1-3 for the Falcons. The season could be crazy until the end.
AFC Conference
Qualified
Denver Broncos (13-3) – AFC West
New England Patriots (13-3) – AFC East
Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4) – Qualified for the playoffs
Buffalo Bills (11-5) – Qualified for the playoffs
Houston Texans (11-5) – Qualified for the playoffs
Los Angeles Chargers (11-5) – Qualified for the playoffs
Denver wins the number 1 seed in the AFC (rest + home field advantage) if:
Denver Broncos (13-3) vs. Los Angeles Chargers (11-5) – Sunday at 10:25 p.m.
DEN wins OR
DEN draws + NE loses or draws OR
NE loses + JAX loses or draws
New England wins the number 1 seed in the AFC (rest + home field advantage) if:
New England Patriots (13-3) vs. Miami (7-9) – Sunday at 10:25 p.m.
NE wins + DEN loses or draws OR
NE draws + DEN loses
Jacksonville wins the AFC South and the number 1 seed in the AFC (rest + home field advantage) if:
Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4) vs. Tennessee (3-13) – Sunday at 7 p.m.
JAX wins + DEN loses + NE loses
Jacksonville wins the AFC South if:
JAX wins or draws OR
HOU loses or draws
Houston wins the AFC South if:
Houston Texans (11-5) vs. Indianapolis (8-8) – Sunday at 7 p.m.
HOU wins + JAX loses
Baltimore wins the AFC North if:
Baltimore Ravens (8-8) at Pittsburgh (9-7) – Sunday night to Monday at 2:20 a.m.
BAL wins
Pittsburgh wins the AFC North if:
Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7) vs. Baltimore (8-8) – During the night from Sunday to Monday at 2:20 a.m.
PIT wins or draws
NFC Conference
Qualified
Seattle Seahawks (13-3) – Qualified for the playoffs
San Francisco 49ers (12-4) – Qualified for the playoffs
Chicago Bears (11-5) – NFC North
Los Angeles Rams (11-5) – Qualified for the playoffs
Philadelphia Eagles (11-5) – NFC East
Green Bay Packers (9-6-1) – Qualified for the playoffs
San Francisco wins the NFC West and earns the number 1 seed in the NFC (rest + home field advantage) if:
San Francisco 49ers (12-4) vs. Seattle (13-3) – During the night from Saturday to Sunday at 2:00 a.m.
SF gagne
Seattle wins the NFC West and earns the number 1 seed in the NFC (rest + home field advantage) if:
Seattle Seahawks (13-3) at San Francisco (12-4) – Saturday night at 2:00 a.m.
SEA wins or draws
Carolina wins the NFC South if:
Carolina Panthers (8-8) at Tampa Bay (7-9) – Saturday at 10:30 p.m.
CAR wins or draws OR
ATL gagne
Tampa Bay wins the NFC South if:
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9) vs. Carolina (8-8) – Saturday at 10:30 p.m.
TB wins + ATL loses or draws
